‘Never said I know everything’: Modi on Rahul’s Hindu remark
JAIPUR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hit back at Congress president Rahul Gandhi, saying that the PM’s knowledge of Hinduism was not an election issue in Rajasthan and that the Congress was busy trying to rake up religion rather than talk about development in its election campaign.
Speaking at a poll rally in Jodhpur, Modi said “a naamdar (dynast)” appeared to be claiming to know all about Hinduism when even saints don’t make such an argument because of the vast knowledge and heritage associated with Hinduism.
“Only naamdar can claim that, but not a small kaamdar [worker] like me,” Modi said at an election rally without naming Gandhi. Two days ago, Gandhi said in Udaipur that the “Prime Minister says he is a Hindu, but he doesn’t understand [the] foundation of Hinduism. What kind of a Hindu is he?”
Reacting to the Congress leader’s comment, Modi asked at a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rally: “Does Rajasthan want to vote on issues of road, water and electricity or on whether Modi has the knowledge of Hinduism?”
He said though the opposition party appeared to be carrying the flag of Hindutva nowadays, the previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) told the Supreme Court in a written submission that “Lord Rama was a fictional character and there was no historical proof that he existed”.
Continuing with his attack on the Nehru-Gandhi family, Modi said the country’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, did nothing for restoration of Somnath temple but objected to the then president Rajendra Prasad’s visit to the shrine after it got reconstructed by Sardar Patel.Modi also said the more the rivals indulge in mud-slinging, the more the lotus (BJP’s election symbol) will bloom.
“Rajasthan will not accept the Congress lies... If the Congress believes that people will pawn the state for five years then that era is over now,” he said in the state that votes on December 7. Results for Rajasthan, along with four other states, will be declared on December 11.
He said those talking about Hindutva will have to be accountable for the rule of four generations of one family.
“People in the Congress believe that they don’t have to do anything in politics and talking about development is senseless. They work to set their caste equations right and manage contractors of votes to keep themselves going,” he said.
Rajasthan Congress spokesperson Satyendra Raghav said it was BJP leaders who talked about religion and Hindutva. “Rahul Gandhi is talking about farmers and the youth, but BJP leaders, as always, are harping on issues such as religion, caste and Ram Mandir during the election time.”